The BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois settlement resolves claims that it illegally terminated coverage for private duty skilled nursing care for medically fragile, technologically dependent children, which shifted the cost of the care onto Medicaid, said the Department of Justice.

North Country Health Services and Sanford Health have signed an agreement that will create Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota on March 1. As part of the deal, Sanford will invest $70 million in resources over the next ten years.

A Seattle physician shuns insurance and puts his beliefs into practice. The power of shopping and the free market, he says, will cut prices for medical care, and remove the complexity—at least from the primary care system.

Forward-thinking orthopedic leaders are ensuring high performance and coordination among a carefully constructed caregiver team. Those leaders are also exploring the right metrics to know whether the outcomes they are tracking are the most meaningful to patients. Join the executive and clinical leadership team from nationally renowned MemorialCare Health System and orthopedic innovator Marshall Steele, MD, on March 29 for a three-hour dive into essential orthopedic leadership strategy. http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/rounds/

Dedication to mission is strong and getting stronger, but just how to accomplish that mission is less certain, according to the just-released results of the 2011 HealthLeaders Media Industry Survey. http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/industry_survey/